Ice cube making apparatus



June 1954 R. w. AYRES ET AL ICE CUBE MAKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1950 [NV ENTOR yr'es IPusse II 144/) Dorm/d f. Swanson aka} ATTORNEY Np h 111 st 111 lll s lll E NF.

June 1954 R. w. AYRES ET AL ICE CUBE MAKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1950 INVENTOR m n R S O O m Aw W: M n fi a M 0 J1me 1954 R. w. AYRES ETAL ICE CUBE MAKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 18, 1950 INVENTOR Russell W Ayr'es Donald F 5w 6 M 'Q ATTORNEY QHSOH June 29, 1954 R. w. AYRES ETAL 2,682,155

' ICE CUBE MAKING APPARATUS Filed March 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E 54 65 86 f g 57 INVEN'T OR Russell W. Ayr'es ATTORNEY Patented June 29, 1954 ICE CUBE MAKING APPARATUS Russell W. Ayres and Donald F. Swanson, St. Paul, Minn, assignors to Seeger Refrigerator Company, St. Paul, Minn.

Application March 18, 1950, Serial No. 150,462

14 Claims.

Our invention relates to an improvement in ice cube making apparatus wherein it is desired to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus for producing cubes of ice.

Many different types of devices have been produced for the manufacture of ice cubes. Many of these devices function effectively for their pur- .pose, but have the disadvantage of being relatively high priced. The present invention lies in the production of a relatively simple automatic mechanism for producing a supply of ice cubes and has the advantage of forming solid cubes which are clear and transparent and of uniform size and weight.

An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a slab of clear ice sufiicient in size to form a number of ice cubes. When a slab of proper thickness is produced, the freezing operation is discontinued and the support on which the ice is formed is heated sufiiciently to disengage the slab of ice. The support for the ice slab is so designed that the slab may slide by gravity onto a network of resistance wires. These wires slowly melt through the ice, separating the slab into individual cubes. A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the ice slab is formed by flowing water over a chilled plate which is suificiently cold to freeze a portion of the water. A slab of substantial thickness is gradually built upon the refrigerated plate and the freezing operation continues until the slab is of desired thickness. The freezing action is then discontinued and the slab permitted to slide by gravity off the plate.

A feature of the present invention lies in the incorporation of the automatic slab forming apparatus and slab cutting apparatus in an insulated compartment in which the ice cubes produced may be stored. Means are provided for discontinuing the ice cube forming process when a sufficient supply of ice cubes is produced. Thus the apparatus functions automatically to form and maintain a supply of ice cubes.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a network of resistance wire designed to support the slab of ice and in arranging the wires in parallel rows, certain of which extend longitudinally of the movement of the ice slab and the others of which extend transversely of the direction of movement of the slab. The longitudinally extending wires are above the level of the transversely extending wires so that the ice may be guided in its movement by the longitudinally extending wires.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a network of resistance wires and in a means of holding these wires in a taut condition. In view of the relatively small diameter of these wires, there is a. tendency for them to stretch and sag when they are heated. We provide means of resiliently supporting the wires so that they remain taut at all times.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through the ice cube forming apparatus showing the general construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a sectional View through the cabinet illustrated in Figure 1, the position of the section being indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the resistance Wire network and the wire supports.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through a portion of the resistance wire supports showing the construction thereof.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through another portion of the resistance wire supports showing the arrangement thereof.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the manner in which the resistance wires are stretched tautly as they are mounted.

Figure '7 is an elevational view of one of the springs supporting the resistance wires.

Figure 8 is an elevation View of another of the springs supporting the resistance wire.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic View showing the wiring of the apparatus.

Figure 10 is adiagram of the freezing system of the apparatus.

The ice cube making apparatus is illustrated in general by the letter A. The structure includes an insulated cabinet having a bottom wall It and a front wall I I. An insulated partition wall [2 extends upwardly from the bottom It at a point spaced from the rear of the cabinet. An insulated shelf I3 is provided extending from the upper extremity ofthe partition wall IE to the rear of the cabinet. A rear wall l4 extends from the shelf wall l3 to the top of the cabinet. The cabinet also includes the insulated top Wall i5 and a forwardly inclined wall panel Iii. A door I! is hinged at 19 to the lower end of the slanting wall It. The door I"! provides access to the interior of the cabinet and to the ice cube storage space within the forward portion of the cabi net. This storage space extends from the front drawings.

wall ii to the partition wall 12 and between the side walls of the cabinet.

The space beneath the shelf wall 13 and rearwardly of the partition wall l2 provides a mechanism chamber in which is located the compressor 2i and its operating motor 22. This chamber also contains certain other apparatus which will be later described-in detail.

An inclined plate 23 is supported in spaced relation to the cabinet side walls 26 by suitable supporting means. This supporting means includes a frame of stainless steel strips, opposite sides of which are connected to the cabinet walls as indicated at 24. The platelzfl is formed of material which is a much better conductor of heat than stainless steel. The plate 23 is provided with refrigerating coils-25 secured to the undersurface thereof. The stainless steel frame surrounding the plate 25 is provided with a tubu- ..lar conduit 25 secured in heat transfer relation thereto.

A rectangular frame'zl of plastic or other suitable material is secured between the side walls 2 as best illustrated in Figure 2 of the extending projections 29 on opposite sides thereof which extend into proximity with the walls 20 and these projections are secured to the wall.

=Theside members 38 of the frame and the lower end 3! of the frame are relatively higher than the upper wall 32 of the frame. The upper surface of the frame wall '32 is on substantially the plane of the plate 23. As a result the slab of -ice formed on the. plate 23 may slide off this plate and over the front wall 32 of the frame 21.

The sides as and end wall 3! of the frame con- .fine the slab within the boundaries of the frame.

The frame 21 is designed. to support a series of resistance wires which forms a means of cuttingthe ice slab. The manner in which the wires .are supported is best illustrated in Figures 3 to 80f the drawings. A series of metal spring clips 33 are bolted to the rear frame wall 3| as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. These spring clips include an anchoring base 34 connected by an off-set 35 to a bifurcated. upper portion 36. A pair of apertures 31 extend through the spring plate near the upper end thereof and eyelets 39 are riveted through these apertures. The resistance wire lil extends through the eyelets 39 and is supported thereby.

A similar series of spring clips '33 are secured to the forward wall 32 of the frame 21. These spring clips 33 on the forward wall are arranged in opposed relation to the clips on the rear wall D 3i.

The-resistance wires are-threaded from one end of the frame to the other and the ends'of the resistance wire are anchored to the frame as indicated at 4%. The clips 33 are secured to the outer surfaces of the frame walls 3| and 32 as indicated in Figures 4 and 6 and the wires Ml extend through apertures t2 and 43 in the frame walls.

The spring clips are designed to provide tension upon the wires 40. As indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings, the resistance wire is attached to the springs 33 while the springs are loosely connected to the frames. The springs are fastened to the frame bymeans of bolts or cap screws 4 These-bolts are tightened after the wire has been attached, the tightening of the bolts tending to straighten up the clips 33. Thus tension is applied to the clips so that when the wires are heated they will not sag.

The sides 30 of the frame 21 are also provided The frame '2'! is shown with laterally '3 sides at a .point below this ledge.

or "other suitable means.

55 in the manner best illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. The frame sides are provided with a projecting ledge 52 along its upper extremity and spaced apertures 53 are provided in the frame The spring clips are secured to the ledge 52 by bolts 54 The resistance wires are. thus supported by the spring clips and are placed under tension when the wires are mounted so that the wires will not sag when heated.'

With reference-now to Figure lof the'drawings it will benoted'that we provide a tank 55 upon the shelf E3 of the refrigerator. This tank 55 is provided with an open top and is designed to contain a supply of water. The level of water within thetank is maintained by a float 56 which actuates afloat valve 5? controlling the water supply to the tank. An overflow pipe 59 prevents the overfilling of the tank.

A pump 61! is mounted in the shelf 53, the impeller 6! thereof being immersed in the liquid in thetank 55. The impeller is rotated by a motor preferably mounted on the undersurface of the shelf i5 so that the heat generated thereby will not be transmitted into the refrigerating chamber. The outlet 53 of the pump 60 ex-- tends through a tubular conduit i l to a manifold 55 at the upper extremity of the refrigerating chamber. This manifold includes a relatively narrow outlet 56 which extends the full width of the plate 23. 'The liquid may pass through the outlet 56 in a continuous wide stream or this outlet may lee-divided into a series of spaced outlets soas to-provide a flow of Water which is continuous'throughout the entire width of the plate 25.

The tank 55 is positioned beneath the'lower end of the plate 23 so'that water draining from the plate will drop into the tank 55. We have found that if the same water is continuously recirculated and only a small amount of water'is added the concentration of impurities in the water continues to increase until the impurities tend to produce ice which is cloudy and nontransparent. Accordingly we prefer to have a portion of the water passing over the plate 23 constantly drain to the outlet so as to prevent a concentration of impurities in'the tank 55.

One way of accomplishing this result is to provide a relatively narrow trough $7 extending beneath the lower edge of the plate 23 and designed to catch a portion of the water flowing over the plate '23. By increasing the width of the trough 61 all of the liquid passing over the plate may be drained 01f if desired, but we have found that if a small proportion of the water is caught and drained, the previous difficulties may be avoided. The trough 61 is shown extending across the top of the tank 55 and connected to a drain pipe as connected to the drain 59. However, this arrangement is only illustrative of various means which can be used for accomplishing this purpose.

The tank 55 is provided with admin cock 10 by means of which all 'of'the liquid in the tank may be drained oil when desired for cleaning or other purposes.

We have found that by refrigerating the plate 23 with a refrigerant coil of suitable size, the temperature of the plate may be quickly reduced so that a slab of ice of desired thickness may be built up thereupon. In the operation of the device as a whole, the plate 23 is chilled to a low temperature and the pump 60 set into operation so that a film of water flows over the plate. A portion of the water flowing over the plate freezes while the remainder of the water drains into the tank 55 and is recirculated with the exception of the proportion thereof which is delivered to the drain. By continuing this process for a reasonable length of time a slab of ice of considerable thickness is built up upon the plate 23. Relatively little ice will form upon the stainless steel frame H of the plate 23 as this frame is a relatively poor conductor of heat. found that side flanges are not required on the plate 23 due to the tendency for the ice to form over the plate rather than the frame H.

When a slab of ice of proper thickness has been formed the circulation of water over the plate is interrupted, and a relatively hot gas is allowed to circulate through the coil '26 beneath the frame H. This hot gas tends to melt the ice from the frame H and gradually loosens the ice from the plate 23. The flow of refrigerant through the system is simultaneously stopped and the hot gas after passing through the coil 26 beneath the frame H passes through the refrigerant coil 25 and into the suction line of the compressor. The slab of ice is thus quickly loosened from the plate and its frame and tends to slide by gravity down the plate and onto the longitudinally extending parallel wires 40 of the resistance unit.

The top layer of wires 49 extend parallel to the direction of movement of the ice slab and therefore tend to get the slab into place within the frame 21. The wires 40 are heated sufficiently to melt through the slab of ice, dividing the slab into a series of parallel strips. The strips of ice next contact the transversely extending parallel resistance wires 40 which cut the strips into individual cubes. These cubes drop into the well of the cabinet where they remain frozen until removed. The refrigerating system which we employ is indicated in Figure of the drawings. This figure illustrates the compressor 2! driven by a belt 12 from the motor 22. The compressed fluid passes into the condenser 13 having a refrigerant outlet hi near its lower extremity. The top of the condenser 13 is provided with a gas outlet 15 which is connected by a suitable conduit to a solenoid valve 16. The solenoid valve is provided with an outlet conduit 11 which is connected to the gas coil 26. The outlet of the gas coil is connected at 19 to the refrigerant coil and refrigerant or gas passing through this coil enters the suction line 89 of the compressor 2|.

The liquid refrigerant from the condenser 73 passes through the line 8| to the expansion valve 82. The refrigerant passing through the expansion valve enters the coil 25 and flows to the suction line 89.

The compressor 2! is designed to operate continuously. During the freezing cycle of the device the solenoid valve 16 is closed so that no gas may escape from the condenser 13. As a result the refrigerant is forced through the line 8|, the expansion valve 82, the coil 25 and the We have 1 suction line to the compressor. During the time the ice slab is being released from the plate 23, the solenoid valve 16 is open which allows the relatively hot gas from the condenser 13 to flow through the conduit 11, heating the stainless steel frame ll and entering the coil 25 to also raise the temperature of the plate 23. The ice slab accordingly melts free of the plate and slides onto the resistance wires for the cutting operation.

The manner in'which the apparatus is controlled is best illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings. In this figure we show a pair of line wires 83 and 84 from a suitable source of current supply. A master switch 85 is interposed in the line wire 84 by means of which the entire apparatus may be shut off. A thermostatic switch 85 is in series with the switch t5 and also acts to cut off the entire apparatus. This thermostatic switch 86 is controlled by a thermostatic element 8'! located near the upper extremity of the ice cube storage compartment and acts to cut off the current supply when the ice cube storage compartment becomes filled or substantially filled with ice cubes. The conductors 83 and 84 extend to the compressor motor 22 to continuously supply power thereto when the switches 85 and 86 are closed. A second thermostatically operated switch 39 is actuated by pressure through a copper capillary control tube 9t extending to a thermostatic element 9! positioned above the plate 23. This thermostatic element 9! acts to close one circuit when the temperature therein is below a predetermined amount and to close a second circuit when the temperature is above a predetermined amount. The element 9| is positioned above the plate 23 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the ice slab to be built up thereupon. The cold water tends to drain over the slab of ice as the ice builds up. As soon as this water contacts the lower end of the thermostatic element it actuates the switch 89. Thus the switch 89 is actuated when the ice slab builds up to a predetermined thickness, but does never actually touch the ice.

In order to prevent excessive time from elapsing between the movement of the switch 99 from one extreme position to the other, a small heating element 92 is attached to the thermostatic element 9|. This heater is energized when the action of the pump 60 is stopped so as to reverse the position of the switch 89 as. soon as the ice slab slides off from the plate 23.

There is a temperature differential between the time the thermostatic element 9! actuates the switch 89 in one direction and the temperature at which the switch 89 is reversed. Once the thermostatic element 9| has been contacted by the extremely cold water flowing over the surface of the ice slab, the temperature of this element must raise several degrees in order to reverse the position of the switch 89. The proximity of the thermostatic element 9| to the ice slab tends to hold this elementfrom raising in temperature until the ice slab slides from the plate 23. required after the ice slab has moved from the plate 23 before the thermostatic element 9! will reverse the position of the switch 89 and start the water flowing over the plate 23 to form a. new slab. The heater 92 is energized during this interval and quickly raises the temperature of the element 9| as soon as the ice slab has slid from the plate 23.

As a resultsome time would normally be 'ances of the ice cubes is effected.

The line wire 83 extends-to acenter contact 93 of the double throw switch 89. One contact "94 of this switch is connected by conductor 95 to the pump motor 62, the other terminal of which is connected to the line wire 84. The third terminal 96 of the switch 89 is connected by conductor 97 to one terminal of the solenoid 16. The other terminal of which is connected to line wire 84. The conductor 9'! is also connected to one terminal of the heater 92, the other terminal of which is connected by conductor 99 to line wire 84. Thus when the blade 83 of the solenoid switch 89 is in contact with the terminal 94, the pump motor 62 is in operation and while the contact 93 is connected to the terminal'96 the solenoid 16 and the heater 92 are actuated, the circuit to the pump 62 is simultaneously broken.

The primary coil I99 of the transformer [9| is connected between the line wires 83 and 84. The secondary [02 is connected by conductors I03 and I94 to spaced points upon the resistance wire 49. It will be noted that the wire I93 is connected to alternate loops of the resistance wire and the wire N34 is connected to the remaining loops. Thus the heating element 40 is energized by a low voltage current which will not be injurious to anyone happening to come in contact therewith.

The operation of the device may be clearly understood from the foregoing explanation. If there is an insufficient supply of ice cubes, the switch 88 remains closed and the master switch 85 is normally closed. Thus the compressor motor 22 is energized and the transformer I9! is energized, heating the resistance wires. Also under normal circumstances, the pump motor 62 will also be simultaneously energized, thus acting to pump water over the chilled plate 83 until a slab of ice of proper thickness is built up thereupon.

As soon as the water flowing over the ice slab contacts the thermostatic element 9|, the switch 89 is energized to stop the pump motor 62 and to energize the solenoid 16 and heating unit 92. The opening of the solenoid valve 16 acts to by-pass relatively hot gases beneath the marginal frame TI and the plate 23, looseningthe slab of ice therefrom so that it may slide down- Wardly onto the resistance wires 40. The proximity of the thermostatic element 9|..tov the ice slab maintains the solenoid .16 and heater 92 in the circuit until the ice slab slides from the plate 23. At this time the heater quickly raises the temperature of the element 9 l thus reversing the position of the switch 89, closing the solenoid valve Hi and cutting off the heater 92, and energizing the pump motor 62.

The lay-passing or draining of a portion of the water being cooled is of importance where hard water is being frozen. We have found thatif the same water recirculates over the plate '23 for a continued period of time, the solids content of the water gradually increases untilthe appear- However, by permitting a small portion of the water toflow to the drain, this difficulty may be avoided. For the purpose of economy the watersupply is arranged in heat transfer relation'to the water being drained so that the incoming water is normally at low temperature.

In accordance with the patent statutes, we have described the principles ef construction and operation of our ice cubeforming apparatus, and while we have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that obvious changes may *be;madewithin 8 thescope 'ofthe following claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. An ice forming apparatus including an inclined plate, means for refrigerating said plate, a liquid confining frame encircling said plate formed of metal which has a heat conductivity substantially less than that of the plate, and means for circulating water over said plate.

2. The structure described in claim 1 in which the frame is arranged on substantially the same plane as the plate.

3. The structure described in claim 1 in which the frame is arranged on substantially the plane of the plate and is formed of stainless steel.

4. An ice cube forming apparatus including an inclined plate, a refrigerant coil secured to.the undersurface of said plate to refrigerate the same, a hot gas coil encircling the marginal edgeof said plate and connected to said refrigerant coil to flow heated refrigerant gases therethrough, means for flowing water over said plate, and means for selectively directing refrigerant through said refrigerant coil or directing hot re frigerant gases through said hot gas coil and said refrigerant coil.

5. An ice cube forming apparatus including an inclined plate, .means. refrigerating said plate, means circulating water oversaid plate including a water reservoir for receiving water passing over said plate, and a pump for forcing water from said reservoir to drain over said plate, and means for draining a portion of the water passing over said plate.

6. The structure described in claim 5 and including a water supply to said reservoir.

'7. The structure described in claim 5 and including a water supply to said reservoir, said Water supply being arranged in heat transfer relation to the water draining therefrom.

8. An ice cube forming apparatus including an inclined refrigerated. plate, means for flowing water over said plate to build up a slab of ice thereupon, and a thermostatic element located above the plate and normally above the Water flowing over the plate and designed for actuation by water flowing over the slab of iceformed on the plate when the slab reaches a predetermined thickness.

9. An apparatus for forming ice cubes including an inclined refrigerated plate, means for flowing water over said plate, means for catching the water flowing over said plate, means for recycling most of the water caught, and means for draining. a portion of said water caught.

10. An ice cube forming apparatus including an inclined refrigerated plate. means for flowing water over said plateto'form an ice slab thereon, means for releasing the slab from said plate, a

, network of resistance wires supported in the path of movement of the ice slab released from said plate, and means resiliently supporting said resistance wires.

11. An ice cube cutting apparatus for cutting a slab of ice into a series of cubes, the apparatus comprising a generally rectangular frame, a series of parallel resistance wires resiliently secured to said frame, and a second set of resistance wires resiliently secured to said frame below the level of said first named wires, the second set of wires being sufficiently low to support the slab cut by the first wires below the level thereof.

12. An ice cube forming apparatus including a refrigerated plate, means circulating water over said plate toform ice thereon, refrigerating coil means for circulating refrigerant through said plate, means for circulating hot gas through said refrigerating coil to release ice from said plate, and means for actuating the said system including a solenoid valve for selectively directing either hot refrigerant gas or cold refrigerant to said plate, and a thermostatic element above said plate and positioned for physical contact with Water flowing over said plate when sufficient ice is present for controlling said valve.

13. The structure described in claim 12 and including a heating element secured to said thermostat for quickly elevating the temperature thereof when said element is out of proximity with ice on said plate.

14. An ice cube forming apparatus including an inclined plate, a frame encircling said plate formed of material which has a heat conductivity substantially less than that of the plate, a refrigerant coil secured to the undersurface of said plate and frame to refrigerate the same, a hot gas coil encircling said plate and connected to said refrigerant coil to flow heated refrigerant gases therethrough, means for flowing water over said plate, and means for selectively directing cooled refrigerant through said refrigerant coil or directing hot gases through said hot gas coil and said refrigerant coil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Martin Apr. 20, 1875 Daft Nov. 14, 1893 Barrath Aug. 12, 1902 Heller Jan. 8, 1918 Zavarkin Oct. 29, 1918 Uline Jan. 20, 1931 Gay Oct. 17, 1933 Pownall Nov. 28, 1933 Pownall Mar. 26, 1935 Schwimmer Oct. 1, 1940 Vose Nov. 26, 1946 Schwirnmer Dec. 24, 1940 Schwimmer May 12, 1942 Whitney Feb. 1, 1944 Kubaugh July 6, 1948 Lucia Sept. 14, 1948 Munshower Oct. 17, 1950 Pace Dec. 12, 1950 Cobb July 24, 1951 Roberts Nov. 20, 1951 

